Mosaic installation as a community art project-Linking cultural tradition and contemporary living
Community art project encountered in various forms, including mosaic installation and bringing people together in a collaborative and creative process. Main project objective was to create the space for people to connect within their community in an esthetic manner. The mosaic installations was honoring the green culture principles. It had been done with recycle materials hoping to achieve the goal that culture can contribute to the protection of the environment.
National
North Macedonia
Municipality Vinica - mosaic installation located in city park
Municipality Kavadarci- mosaic installation located in vine museum
Skopje Zoo mosaic installation
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2021-06-01
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Welcome Macedonia Center - DMWC Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Emilija Last name of representative: Miladinova Avramcheva Gender: Female Nationality: orth Macedonia Function: President Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Alzirska bb Town: Skopje Postal code: 1000 Country: North Macedonia Direct Tel:+389 77 514 060 E-mail:welcomemacedoniacentre@gmail.com Website:http://dmwc.org.mk
Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre
This project was implemented thanks to the grant of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of
North Macedonia, recognizing the aesthetic development of communities as a local cultural tradition.
The project was implemented in the period 2020-2021 in cooperation with the municipalities of
Kavadarci, Vinica and the Natural science museum in the city of Skopje. This Community arts project
had made available a visible sign of local community’s participation in planning and managing
environment improvement. During the project activities, intensive community participation helped
local people and mosaic artists to express their creativity and develop esthetic skills as a sense of
identity and community pride. This project ended with three mosaic installation in total surface of 80
m² in three municipalities with fully engagement of community members for improving the esthetic
everyday life. Nearly 200 individuals of all ages and 10 mosaic artist had taken participation in realization
all project activities .Hoping to achieve the goal that culture can also contribute to the protection of the
environment and taking into consideration the green culture principles the ceramic waste had been
used as a resource for mosaic installation apart from other construction materials ( glue, concrete ,
cement atc) . The concept behind this community art project was to raise awareness of the visual arts
by reaching out to the local community and encouraging participation of individuals of all ages and
abilities, to mobilize citizens and changing mind-sets and behavior, and catalyze decentralized solutions
based on social and cultural innovations.
Participation
Inclusiveness
Environment
Community design
Creativity
With regard to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with this Project we had been working on
sustainable urban development and management as key to the quality of life of our people. We
collaborate with local authorities and communities to renew and plan our cities and neighborhoods in
order to encourage community cohesion and stimulate innovation in the aesthetic values of urban living
as well as encouraging employment in the fields of culture and tourism.
Regarding the sustainability of this project, several dimensions are significant:
1. Institutional stability as the mosaic installations remain in the ownership of the municipalities
which continue with their regular maintenance
2. Art activities with the participation of communities provide meaningful and effective ways to
awaken cultural values strengthen the sense of belonging in the community and provide social
service that opens the doors to building sustainable communities. Art projects such as mosaic
installations in the community offer children and adults the opportunity to create art and build
self-esteem, collectively improve the aesthetics of urban living, and connect people through
collaborative creative processes.
3. The mosaic made by local people without previous experience under the supervision of
professional mosaic artists- had made urban locations attractive, and these encouraged new
initiatives among the local population and municipalities to continue with these initiatives in
improving the aesthetics of neglected and damaged localities. The project promotes the mosaic
as a form of art and craft based on the inherited tradition, as well as based on the contemporary
developments in this area. The mosaic offers numerous possibilities for development in art,
crafts and truism.
The creation of the mosaic in a community where everyone had a chance to contribute and strengthen the community cohesion build a sense that the
public areas belong to all, and that they can all community members have a positive influence on it. During the implementation phases of the project
all community members were inspiring to improve the public areas on their own initiative, as opposed to passively waiting for someone else to do this.
In communication with project beneficiaries they strongly emphasized their perception how this Project left a lasting mark on the mutual effort of all
citizens in community to celebrate activism, unity, esthetics and beauty and to stimulate new ideas among local authorities to take similar steps in
the future. This project testifies for North Macedonia as a part of the culture of the European civilization. The mosaic installations are serving as an
inspiring element in the development and promotion of tourism in designated municipalities. This is especially noticeable during the Wine Festival in
Kavadarci, organization of events in the city park in Vinica and frequent visits to the Museum of Natural Sciences in Skopje. Visitors to these events, in
addition to enjoying the events themselves, can now also admire the mosaic installations that specially adorn these localities.
Creation the mosaic installations in a community highlighted the project inclusiveness where everyone had the chance to contribute and strengthen the community cohesion with building a sense that the public areas belong to all, and that they can all have a positive influence on it . Through this project for cultural cooperation in the field of mosaic installation, the involvement of at least 200 people - members of the municipalities where the project activities are located – took participation. These persons were directly involved in the creation or organizing activities of the joint mosaic art project (students with their teachers from primary and secondary schools, employees of the municipality, citizens, non-governmental organizations. ) who have the opportunity through constructive activities to develop their visual and creative skills and take responsibility through this art to change the urban culture. Community art projects such as the mosaic installation allow all participants to engage and experience the artwork in different ways through installations that are often specific to the community itself using materials and ideas from the communities. This encourages the citizens and the local administration to take their own initiative for future similar activities that enable artistic production. In relation to inclusiveness, the participation of associations of parents and children with special needs is particularly significant. They additionally contributed to completion of the mosaic installations. Their participation had a special value because they present themselves as useful members of the project, and on the other hand, these manipulative activities have a therapeutic impact outside of the doctor's office. We realized that this stage of the project activities has the greatest importance in the process of inclusivity. In this way, we ensure access of the entire process to all members of the community including those with diverse skills
The realization of this project implies a high participation of the community members in all phases of the project activities from planning to finalize the mosaic
installations. For the municipal administrations, this was in a way an exercise in how to strengthen their role in the cultural and aesthetic improvement of public
spaces through the cohesion of the community as a whole. The project inspired citizens to improve public areas on their own initiative, as opposed to passively
waiting for someone else to do it. Students and teachers who participated in the mosaic installations raised awareness of the impact of youth and educational
institutions in supporting culture and visual arts. Civil organizations, especially those of parents and children with special needs, have gained quality experience in
meaningful participation as the highest level of inclusion. The mosaic artists had the opportunity to transfer their skills to all participants in the Project in order to
enhance the local culture and tradition. Art activities with the participation of communities provide meaningful and effective ways to awaken cultural values
strengthen the sense of belonging in the community and provide social service that opens the doors to building sustainable communities.
In this highly participatory project, various stakeholders made a significant contribution to the
realization of project activities as a joint task of the entire community. Through this enriching
community/arts based project, community members had an opportunity to be a part of
something constructive while developing their visual arts skills. Community members ( local
community administration , schools , parents , teachers ) were invited to be part of this
creative process. Nearly 200 individuals of all ages in 3 selected communities were directly
involved in creating and organizing community mosaic art project activities . They have
acquired skills that they did not previously have and, thus, demonstrated greater creativity. The
fact that 3 municipalities with their local authorities feel sufficiently empowered to take control
of arts projects and then guide and develop them for the benefit of the wider population can
only be good in strengthening the capacity of the community. Skills are developed,
responsibility is taken and through this creative expression the local culture and tradition arts
find a permanent home at the community planning process. At least 10 artists had lead or co-
lead community arts projects and they benefit from their collaboration with communities in
achieving artistic and social outcomes. To lead a community arts project a huge amount of skills
and artistic flexibility is needed that can be benefit in their future professional growth and
expanding their opportunity for offering more commercial services in the field of visual art
Mosaic art project by design, is suitable for a variety of outdoor surfaces. It’s colorful, durable,
and perfect for public art. Community projects and aesthetic enhancement of shared spaces are
a wonderful exercise for all project participants. Mosaic installations were designed with a
mission of bringing people together and facilitating community interactions where everyone will
have the chance to contribute based on its knowledge, skills and the sense that the public areas
belong to all, and that they can all have a positive influence on it. Various categories of people
were involved in the implementation of the Project. Professional mosaic artists developed the
basic mosaic design. The location of the mosaic installation was determined by the municipal
administration, which invited all interested citizens to participate in the installation of the
mosaic. Local community members were initially on cite trained to do practical mosaic work and
informed on how it affect recycle waste products. Mosaic art project is a good example of a
design that is appropriate for a group project with people with different levels of focus or skill or
ability for art expression. The added value of this process is inspiring the citizens and local
authorities to take similar steps in the future. Interactive mosaic installation involves the citizens
in the mosaic creation, considering their power and their sense of mutual responsibility as an
issue of great importance.
This Project resulted in creation of mosaic installation in the communities where everyone had the chance to contribute and reinforce the sense that the public areas belong to all, and that they can all have a positive influence on it. The project inspired the citizens to improve public areas on their own initiative, as opposed to passively waiting for someone else to do this. Interactive mosaic installation in designated locations resulted in enhancing mutual responsibility of the citizens .They together accomplished the improvement of esthetic life in their communities changing the course toward modern aesthetic standards. The project left a lasting mark on the mutual effort of the citizens. It is a symbol of activism, unity, esthetics and beauty. Another benefit of the Project is environmental impact as the mosaic installations are eco friendly constructions, generally made with recycle or reuse materials honoring the green culture principles.
For mosaic artists, installing decorative mosaic is a way of creative expression, but at the same time an opportunity for future professional and work engagements in production and installation of decorative and functional mosaics for residential and commercial clients.
For the students who participated voluntarily in the mosaic installations in the communities, it can be an incentive for their future professional determination in mosaic art.
For local government, public art is a way of interpreting local issues, celebrating local stories and traditions, expressing community aspirations and exploring new ideas.
The typical community development plans includes land-use, transportation, economic development, education, housing, infrastructure, and public safety. All too often the arts are left off this list. This Creative Project is about making sure the arts find a permanent home at the community planning process. Arts organizations and artists as individuals need to find innovative ways to make sure that their voices are heard and valued in conversations about the future of their communities.
Since all community members care about making their place better, it is important to introduce planning and community development through creative urban esthetic. Being involved in a community art project can be among the most rewarding and dynamic experiences. Primarily focused on engaging a community or a group of people, community arts projects involve a variety of media and often function to facilitate a dialogue within a group. This project is created and envisioned with the help of professional artists and offer community volunteers a place to express themselves through a visual means. Community art project are encountered in various forms, including mosaic installation and bringing people together in a collaborative and creative process.
The mosaic that made by local people with no previous experience under the supervision of mosaic arts and architects celebrated an attractive improvement of diverse street scenes which has been designed and made with their help. Community arts projects are providing a visible sign of local community’s participation in planning and managing environment improvement .Community art projects are particularly useful for helping people express their creativity and develop skills, a sense of identity and community pride. Ideas are generated by local people closely with community artists
In terms of project methodology, we used the “Waterfall” methodology as a linear project management methodology. This is a process in which the phases of the project flow downwards and we moved from one project phase to another only after that previous phase was successfully completed.
The project phases took place in the following order:
• Mapping potential locations for mosaic installations
• Singeing memorandum of cooperation with local government ( municipality mayors) , specifying the role of the municipality in the implementation and sustainability of the mosaic installations and the role of the applicant in the implementation of the project activities
• Developing a mosaic concept (design) through joint consultative meetings with mosaic artists
• Community mobilization activities for community participation in a hands-on process that’s accessible to all ages and skill levels ( participation of children and adults with special need were highly acknowledged)
• Interactive mosaic installation in designated locations -the mosaic artists involved the citizens in the mosaic creation, considering the power of the citizens and symbolizing all they can accomplish together towards the improvement of life in their communities
• Organization of 3 promotional events for the promotion of the installed mosaic installations as cultural-historical heritage and contemporary living
The Project concept approach was based on the preservation of cultural diversity and motivating the community to participate in the improvement of aesthetic urban living. We were basically guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through actions on sustainable urban development and management as key to the quality of life of our people. We cooperate with local authorities and communities for the renewal and planning of our cities and settlements in order to encourage innovative approach in the aesthetic values of urban living.
After the full implementation of this Project, other municipalities expressed interest in similar mosaic installations in their community locations. Due to the great interest, we replicated the entire process in three other municipalities, but upgraded it methodologically and included an educational training component. . The new mosaic art project started in 2021-2022 as an international community mosaic art partnership project. In developing project framework we use our previous experience that helps us in concept development and planning phases. The main goal of this project is to encourage harmonization and support good neighborhood relations through cultural cooperation in the field of mosaic installations. Mosaic artists from both neighborhood countries ( Bulgaria and North Macedonia ) are sharing their experiences in the field of traditional and contemporary mosaic art and deepen future cooperation in joint creative cultural events (mosaic exhibitions, workshops and joint cultural manifestations, etc.) The mosaic artists shared their skills through joint mosaic installation in three municipalities in Republic of North Macedonia. In addition, several workshops were realizing related to the significance of the mosaic art that connects the culture of the two neighboring countries, but also as an art and aesthetics that has ecological and developmental characteristics in urban living.
Community art projects have become an important part of community development strategies and urban regeneration initiatives, knowledge sharing initiatives and environmental friendly initiatives as a global challenge. Encouraging community members to participate in a community arts project can revitalize a neighborhood through improved performance on health, crime, and employment and education indicators. We believe in the power of art to make a real, positive difference in people's lives. After making the communities that promote mosaic arts, we continue this kind of art projects in other communities, working with our local artists and inviting international artists to the community. Our next mosaic art project started in 2021-2022 as an international community art partnership project. We work together, collaborating with national and international mosaic artists, local community groups, charities, local authorities and institutions. Mosaic installations make urban places attractive for the development of sustainable tourism (higher flow of tourists) through the promotion of local and traditional arts. In the field of arts and crafts education, the need for new mosaic artists can enrich educational programs with new and high-quality educational courses in the field of local tradition and culture. These elements that happen on a local level also had a global impact from sustainable communities, sustainable tourism and the development of a creative economy.
